Letter package with break-away item

ABSTRACT

A letter package including a letterhead and a breakaway reply item comprising part of a patch adhesively attached to the rear surface of the letterhead. The package may comprise an individual mailing piece or part of a continuous form structure.

Unlted States Patent 1 [111 3,912,160

Gendron Oct. 14, 1975 [54] LETTER PACKAGE WITH BREAK-AWAY 2,482,080 9/1949 Lacey 229/85 ITEM 2,824,686 2/1958 Hamilton 1 229/69 3,111,258 11/1963 Perlstein 229/92.3 5] Inventor: Wilfred Gendron, Wilbraham, 3,132,796 5/1964 OGorman... 229/92.3 Mass. 3,294,423 12/1966 Mudd, .lr. 229/69 3,428,237 2/1969 Dowen 229/69 [73] Asslgnee: 'F States Envehpe Cmnpany, 3,820,447 6/1974 Gendron 229 73 x Sprmgfield, Mass.

[22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1974 Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe [21] Appl 456l l3 Attorney, Agent, or FirmRichard L. Schmalzj Vernon F. Venne [52] U.S. Cl. 229/69; 229/70; 229/73;

51 1 0 B650 7 10 13651 537 34 [57] ABS CT 1 2 B65D 4 A letter package including a letterhead and a break- [58] Field of Search 229 71 73 92.3 92.8 away reply item mprising a Patch adhesively 229/69 attached to the rear surface of the letterhead. The package may comprise an individual mailing piece or [56] References Cited part of a continuous form structure.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 2,078,873 4/1937 Binger 229/92.8

I LETTER PACKAGE WITH BREAK-AWAY ITEM This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 229,660, filed Feb. 28, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to-letter packages and deals more particularly with improved letter packages of a type which include a letterhead and an attached reply item.

The letter packages of the present invention are particularly suitable for use in direct mail advertising, fund raising, solicitation and the like and may be provided as individual mailing pieces or in series connected or continuous form. Heretofore, letter packages have been provided which include a letterhead having a patch pocket or the like containing ,a separate reply item, a portion of which is or may be visible through a window opening formed in the letterhead. The general aim of the present invention is to provide an improved letter package of the aforedescribed general type, which includes a break-away reply item, for high-speed production on conventional envelope making machinery and particularly adapted for use on computer printers or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A letter package embodying the present invention includes a letterhead formed from sheet material and an attachment secured to the rear surface of the letterhead.,The attachment has a plurality of parts joined together along at least one line of weakening. At least one of the parts comprises a reply item which overlies an associated portion of the rear surface of the letterhead and has a portion of its frontal surface exposed in a window opening formed in the letterhead. The other of the parts which comprise the attachment retain the reply item in assembly with the letterhead whereby the reply item may be separated from the letterhead along said one line of weakening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front view of an assembly of series connected letter packages embodying the invention, a portion of one of the letterheads being shown broken away to reveal the attachment secured to the rear surface thereof.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear view of the letter package assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear view of still another assembly of series connected letter packages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. l-3 of the drawings, an assembly of continuous form or series-connected letter packages embodying the present invention and indicated generally by the reference numeral comprises a group of individual letter packages indicated generally at 12, 12 connected together in end-to-end relation. Each package 12 includes a letterhead and an associated attachment respectively indicated at 14 and 16.

The letterheads 14, 14 are formed from an elongated web of sheet material designated generally by the reference numeral 18. Longitudinally extending lines of weakening 20, formed on the web 18 and spaced inwardly from the side edges thereof define the side edges of the various letterheads and separate a pair of longitudinally extending marginal carrier strips 22, 22 therefrom. A longitudinal series of transversely extending lines of weakening 24, 24 formed on the web 18 separate each letterhead 14 from a preceding letterhead in the series. Each letterhead has a generally rectangular form and includes a window 26 opening therethrough in the address area thereof. A generally semicircular thumb cut-out opening 28 is preferably formed in each letterhead and opens through one side'edge thereof near the window 26, substantially as shown. The assembly 10 is particularly adapted to be automatically fed through a machine. Accordingly, a longitudinal series of configurations or feed holes 30, 30 are formed in each of the carrier strips 22, 22 for engaging 'anq"a tab' 36 providing connection therebetween. The

patch 32,"which is somewhat larger than the card 34 is folded into overlying relation 'with the card and the tab 36 along a fold line 38. A generally U -sha'ped line of adhesive 40 secures marginal portions of the patch 32 and a portion of the tab 36 to the rear surface of an associated letterhead. The patch 32 cooperates with the associated letterhead 14 to form a pocket therebetween wherein the card 34 is retained by the tab 36. A line of weakening 42 coincident 'with one edge of the card 34 separates it from the tab 36. In assembly, a portion of the frontal surface of the card 34 is exposed in the window 26 to permit the name and address of a recipient to be imprinted directly on the card as the assembly 10 is fed through a computer-printer or the like printing apparatus. After completion of the printing operation, the individual packages 12, 12 may, if desired, be separated from each other and from the carrier strips by bursting the assembly along the various lines of weakening in a manner well known in the art. If desired, the assembly 10 may be conveniently fan-folded along the various lines of weakening 24, 24 for separation at some later time. Each card 34 preferably remains connected to its associated letter package until received by an addressee. The thumb cut-out opening 28 enables the recipient to conveniently grasp the outer or exposed edge of the card to separate it from the letter package. The line of weakening or perforation 42 is so formed to permit the card 34 to readily separate from the tab 36 when pulling force is exerted upon the card.

Referring now to FIG. -4, a three-up letter package assembly embodying the invention and designated generally at l0e comprises apl'urality of connected letter packages l2e, l2e arranged in strips respectively designated S S and S Each letter package l2e includes a letterhead 142 and an associated attachment l6e. The letterheads Me, Me are formed from an elongated web of sheet material indicated generally at l8e.

The letter packages l2e, l2e in each strip are ar ranged in series and connected in end-to-end relation along transversely extending lines of weakening 24c,

242 formed on the web 1&2. Each of the strips 8,, S and S is connected in side-by-side relation to an adjacent one of the strips along a longitudinally extending line of weakening 21 formed on the web. At least one marginal carrier strip is provided for feeding the letter package assembly through a computer printer or the like. The illustrated assembly le includes two such marginal carrier strips designated at 22e, 22e. Each carrier strip 22c is separated from an associated strip of letter packages by a longitudinally extending line of weakening 20e formed on the web l8e and includes a longitudinal series of configurations or feed holes 30c.

Considering now a typical letter package 12c in further detail, the letterhead 142 is generally rectangular and has a window opening 26e formed therein and a generally semicircular thumb cut-out opening 28e formed adjacent its marginal edge near the window opening. The attachment l6e comprises a generally rectangular patch 32c, a rectangular reply item or post card 34e and a tab 36e which provides connection therebetween. As in the previously described assembly 10, the-patch is somewhat larger than the card and is folded' into overlying relation with the card and the tab 366 along a fold .line 38a coincident with the upper marginal. edge of the patch 32e and generally-parallel to theline of weakening 24e. The card 32e and at least a portion of the tab 36e is secured to the rear surface of the letterhead l4e by a generally U-shaped line of adhesive 40c. Thus, the patch 32a cooperates with the letterhead Me to form a pocket in which the card 34e is at least partially disposed. A line of weakening 42e aligned with the upper edge of the card 34e separates it from the tab 36:: to facilitate break-away removal of the card.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising at least one letter package, said letter package being adapted to be received in and carried by a mailing envelope and consisting ofa generally rectangular letterhead and a reply item overlying an associated portion of the rear surface of said letterhead and attached thereto. said letterhead consisting of only one piece of sheet material having a window opening therethrough, said reply item consisting of only one other piece of sheet material and comprising a generally rectangular reply card having a portion of its frontal surface exposed in said window opening and a patch integrally connected to said reply card and separated therefrom along a line of weakening, said patch overlying the rear surface of said reply item and havingmarginal portions thereof adhered to said rear surface of said letterhead, said patch and said letterhead cooperating to form a pocket therebetween, said replycard being at least partially disposed within said pocket, said reply item having a frontal surface area substantially smaller than the frontal surface area of said letterhead and being spaced a substantial distance upwardly from the lower edge of said letterhead and inwardly from at least one side edge of said letterhead.

2. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reply item includes a tab connecting said reply card to said patch.

3. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 2 wherein said one line of weakening is coincident with an associated edge of said card and forms a line of separation between said tab and said card.

4. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 3 wherein said length of said associated edge is substantially greater than the length of said coincident line of weakening. 

1. An article of manufacture comprising at least one letter package, said letter package being adapted to be received in and carried by a mailing envelope and consisting of a generally rectangular letterhead and a reply item overlying an associated portion of the rear surface of said letterhead and attached thereto, said letterhead consisting of only one piece of sheet material having a window opening therethrough, said reply item consisting of only one other piece of sheet material and comprising a generally rectangular reply card having a portion of its frontal surface exposed in said window opening and a patch integrally connected to said reply card and separated therefrom along a line of weakening, said patch overlying the rear surface of said reply item and having marginal portions thereof adhered to said rear surface of said letterhead, said patch and said letterhead cooperating to form a pocket therebetween, said reply card being at least partially disposed within said pocket, said reply item having a frontal surface area substantially smaller than the frontal surface area of said letterhead and being spaced a substantial distance upwardly from the lower edge of said letterhead and inwardly from at least one side edge of said letterhead.
 2. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reply item includes a tab connecting said reply card to said patch.
 3. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 2 wherein said one line of weakening is coincident with an associated edge of said card and forms a line of separation between said tab and said card.
 4. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 3 wherein said length of said associated edge is substantially greater than the length of said coincident line of weakening. 